Curling Irons Buying Guide

Wavy haired girls, rejoice--texture is in. But whether you're cork screw curly or pin straight, the right tools can get you bounce, movement, and wave.

Choosing a Curling Iron

A few preliminary questions to ask yourself:

• How often are you going to use it? If you style with an iron daily, you'll need a model that puts your hair's health first and foremost. Look for protective features, like non-singeing ceramic, or conditioning ions. It might also be important to you to have a fast heat-up time.
• How long does it need to last? If you're shopping for a special event, like prom, you probably don't need to worry too much about how durable your curling iron is.
• What's your skill level? If you're a pro, you may want flexibility and control with a Marcel iron,  but newbies may find the goof proof spiral design (which puts hair in the perfect position for curling) a better choice.
• What type of look are you seeking? Tight curls call for small barrels, S-waves required a waving iron, big, soft curls need a wide barrel.
• What's your hair type? Fine hair can be styled with as little as 150 degrees of heat, while coarse hair may need 200 before it holds. If you've got special requirements in this department, find an iron with temperature control.
• How damaged is your hair? If you've permed or color treated, it may be worth it to you to invest in a tourmaline or ceramic iron to prevent damage while styling with an iron. You'll also want control over the heat setting.

A Visual Guide to the Basics

Brush/Hot Air  You can style your hair as you dry it. Same effect as blow drying with a round brush,  but with more intense heat, and only requires one hand! You'll get a large, loose curl, like with velcro rollers.  Make sure your hair is thoroughly dried before you stop styling, or the look won't hold and your hair will frizz up.	Spring Barrels  Most basic, common curling iron. Work the clamp with your thumb; it will hold hair in place until you push down to release.	Marcel  Mostly made for professionals. No spring in the clamp; the stylist has to hold it closed. Watch out--there's no cool tip on the end, so don't burn your fingers.

Spiral  Creates curls that mimic naturally curly hair, which tends to form spirals rather than ringlets. Simply clamp hair at the ends and roll up. The iron will position your hair for you. This isn't a great tool for a casual, loose curl; the results will be intense.	Triple-Barrels  Creates tight, beachy waves à la Madonna. You'll need to "curl" your way down the hair a few times (it's more like crimping--you don't wind your hair around the iron, you clamp it). For deeper waves, choose an iron with a Marcel-style springless clamp.	Dual-Purpose  A curling iron and flat iron in the same tool. Perfect for travelling. Because you'll be using this tool to straighten and curl your hair (re: you'll be using it a lot), investing in ceramic or tourmaline is probably a good idea.

Top Product Picks

Conair 5 in 1	Hot Tools Professional Spring Curling Iron	BaByliss Pro TT Tourmaline 500 Spring Curling Iron	Hot Tools Professional Marcel Curling Iron
This is a great product for a beginner. It's a cheap way to experiment with all sorts of styles. Don't buy one to scale down the tools in your bathroom though; seasoned stylists will probably want heat settings and a higher quality material, such as ceramic.	Also cheap, and easy to use. Great for occasional styling. Daily users will want a safer material and more durable design, though.	Tourmaline means even heating and safer styling--even with higher temperatures. Creates a soft, traditional curl. May be too expensive to make sense for the occasional styler.	A great high end choice for the pro or near-pro stylist. Marcel-style clamp allows complete control, but requires skill. Fast heat up.

Related Products:

Hair Dryers	Flat Irons	Styling Products